Transmission for motor-vehicles.



L. R CROUCH.

TRANSMISSION FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPHCAUON FILED DEC. 18, 1912.

Patented Dec 1 191.6.

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m ANN WITNESSES L. R. CROUCH.

TRANSMISSION FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION I550 05c. I8. I912- 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

III III S Q Q x w a *I WITNESSES INVE VTOR 0% M42 MM Ailormy PatentqdDec. 12, 1916.

LOGAN BODFGRD CROUCH, OF U'LMER, IOWEL TRANSNLISSION FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

ll.atented Dec. 12, 1918.

Application filed December 18, 1912. Serial No. 737.494..

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Loo/m R onnonn CROUCH, acitizen of the United States, residing at Uhner, in the county of Sacand State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in'lransmission for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification.

My present invention relates to transmission for motor vehicles, such asautomobiles or tractors, having; wheels bodily oscillatable aboutupright pivots near the hubs, for

steering purposes.

The rn'incipal objects of my invention are to provide transmissionmovement of a. motor to actuate wheels, whereby the vehicle may be movednd steered; to adapt such transmission for successful use to impartmovement to the wheels for either forwarding or backing the vehicle;and, to provide transmission which embodies mechanism serving as a.differential whereby one wheel of a pair may be rotated faster than theother to prevent sidewise dragging); of its tread over the ground whenthe vehicle is turned.

Further objects of my invention are to provide transmission which issimple in COIlStIUUtlOll, and hence, inexpensive to imnuifacturc; thatwhich is easily assembled and ei'licient for transmitting much powerand. elements adapted to take up shocks and provide for easy actuationof the mechanism for change of direction of movement of the vehicle.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the following detaileddescription, taken in connection with the accompanyin; drawings, forminga part of this specification, and in which drawings:

Figure 1. is a plan view of an axle structure of a. vehicle chassisembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail. partly in sectionand partly in elevation, of a portion of such structure. Fig. 3 isa viewin elevation, with a part broken away to disclose details, showine aportion of the mechanism serving as means for imparting movementto oneof the vehicle wheels. Fig. 4- is a. side elevation of a bevel rear andclutches forming; a. part of the mechanism mentioned in connection withFig. 3. Fig.

5 is a plan view showing details of mechanism for imparting movement ofa motor to the drive shaft of the vehicle. Fin. .3 1s a detail viewpartly in elevation and partly for lmpartmgj.

mechan ism.

in section illustrating the means employed for the purpose of permittingthe checking of the rotary motion of the. drive shaft upon slidingmovement thereof. Fig. 7 is a detail view partly in elevation and partlyin Section of several. of the parts illustrated in Fig. 6.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, A designate. a suitable frame comprising 6l(,)1'1"2lt0(l members 10 to be disposed transversely of the vehicle, and crossbars 11. This frame forms that part of the vehicle chassis for imposingthe load on the main frame members, upon the wheel axles.

The frame A carries steering axles 12. of

the well known type, upon which are moamt.

ed wheels 13. These axles are each. pivotwl to swing about the axis ofan urn-loin. stud.

16, carried byframe A, so that each wheel 13 is bodily oscillataliileabout such upright axis, and the usual steering: arm 15 may extend fromthe stud embracing a portion of the axle, the arms of both of the wheelsbeing connected by rod 15 in the usual way. lily this construction. thewheels 13 may be oscillated simultaneously. the arms 17 being; set atthe proper steering; angle. as is well known to those skilled in theart. so that neither of the wheels will sliid due to round in; a curve.A drive shaft of the transmis sion, is designated by l? and is rcvolublycarried by cross bars 11 of frame A. and reeiprocable with respectthereto.

Reversible mechanism, designated grenerallv by l), is provided forimparting moveinent of shaft'li to the wheels. in one direction, butpermitting the latter to move faster than the former as for roundingcurves, to prevent sidcwisc dragging: of its tread over the ground, whenthe vehicleisturned. Suit able mechanism, designated generally by isprovided for imparting movement of a motor, (not shown in the drawings),to shaft 17 and adapted to move the latter longitudinally upon reversalof the direction of rotation of the drive element of such ,li'lcchanismC may include means for retarding circumferential movement of the shaftl'i' while being nun ed longitudinally. to permitof eas and successfuloperation of mechanism l3.

Referring! first to mechanism l3, it prefe ably includes two coaxialbevel gears it: and ll), the former having! the larger d am' annulargroove 24 formed in an extension retained against movementlongitudinally of frame A, as by stays 23 fitting into an 25 of saidgear. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, gear 22 is provided with ratchet teeth26 formed. on extension 25, and has a recess 27 in its'face opposite toteeth 26, at the bottom of which recess are second ratchet teeth 28.'The provision of a recess 27 is desirable,although' not essential, 1n.order to condense the mechanism. A second bevel and the abutments.

gear 29 is also freely moiinted on shaft 15 intermediate gear 22 andsteering axles 12, this gear 29 'comeshing with gear 21. The gear 29. isretained. against movement longitudinally of frame A as by stays 30fitting into'an annular groove 31 formed in an extension 32 laterally ofgear 29 and preferably integral therewith. Ratchet teeth 33' are carriedby extension 32 and second ratchet'teeth, movable with gear 29, areprovided adjacent the face of this gear opposite from teeth 33.

With particular reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be notedthat the teeth 33 movable with gear29 face the wheel 13, while theteeth-34 of gear 29 face the clutch 49. For coaction with the teeth 33 Iprovide a clutch member 35 mounted on shaft 17 so as to be movablelongitudinally there of. This clutch member is' provided with anelongated slot 36 into which extends pin 37 carried by said shaft.Abutments 38 may be provided on this clutch member, and a washer 39 mayabut against pin 37, with a spring 40 interposed between said washer Bythis construction, the clutch member is yieldably carried with shaft 17when the latter is reciprocated, so that the teeth 41 of the clutchmember are brought into operative relation to the teeth of gear 29 so asto impart-movementof shaft 17 to said gear in one direction. Likewise,the teeth 26 of gear 22 may have a clutch .member 42 for coactiontherewith, this clutch member being substantially like member 35 in thatit is provided with an elongated slot 43, into which extends a pin 44carried by shaft 17; an abutment 45 a being movable longitudinally ofshaft 17, and circumferentially movable therewith through pin whichextends into an elongated slot 51 in the body portion of this clutchmember. Teeth 52 are provided for coaction with teeth 28, while teeth 53are provided for coaction with teeth 34. In this instance, flanges 54and may be provided adjacent teeth and 53, respectively, and washers 56and 57 may abut against pin 50, at opposite sides thereof, with coilsprings 58 and 59 interposed between washers 56 and 57, and flanges 54and 55, respectively. The clutch member 49 is so disposed that when theteeth of clutch member 35 engage with the teeth of gear 29, then itsteeth 52 engage with the teeth of gear 22, and when the shaft 17 ismoved longitudinally so that the teeth of clutch member 42 engage withthe teeth 26 of gear 22, then the teeth 53 of clutch member 49 engagewith the teeth 34 of gear 29. lVhile I have hereinbefore describedmechanism B as comprising coacting gears 18, 20 and 22, and 19, 21 and29, it is obvious that either set may be dispensed withwithout departingfrom the spirit or scope of my invention, two sets being preferable inorder to equalize the pressure upon stud 14, or so that there is notendency to mate rially throw the wheel 13 out of its normal plane withrespect to the frame A.

Referring now to mechanism C, it preferably comprises a collar 60loosely mounted on shaft 17 but retained against movement longitudinallyof frame A, as by stays 61 extending into an annular groove 62 formed insaid collar. This collar is also provided with a helical slot 63, intowhich extends a pin 64 rigid with shaft 17. By this construction, uponrotation of collar 60, and with pin 64 at one end of slot 63, movementwill be imparted to shaft 17, however, if collar 60 is moved in acounter direction the pin 64 must move relative to slot 63 until itabuts against the other end of the slot, before movement of said collaris successfully imparted to the shaft 17. This action, requires theshaft 17 to move longi- "tudinally, inasmuch as the collar 60 isretained against such movement by the stays 61. A suitable wheel 65,such as a sprocket wheel, may be rigid with collar 60 to facilitaterotation of the latter, from anysuitable 1 an annular groove 68 formedin the hub of said Wheel. The wheel also carries with it collar portions69 about the shaft 17 and terminating in flanges 70. Each collar 69carries a clutch. member 71 which is circumferentially movable withwheel 66 as through keys 72 extending into key-ways 7 3 set forth.

For coaction with each clutch member 71 is a clutch member 77substantially like member 35 in that it is provided with an elongatedslot 7 8, through which extends a. pin 7 9 rigid with shaft 17; anabutment 80 adjacent the teeth 8l.for coaction with the teeth of itscoacting clutch member; a washer 82 abutting against pin 79; and, aspring 83 interposed between abutment 80 and washer 82. By thisconstruction, the clutch member 77 is circumferentially movable withshaft 17 and yieldably forced toward its coacting clutch member.Adjacent eachmember 77 is an abutment 84, preferably in the form of acup adaptedto receive such member, this abutment being rigid with shaft17 as through pin 85. This abutment is adapted to coiiperate with theflange 76 of the collar 69, the clutch member it is adjacent tocooperates with. In order that the wheel 66 may receive movement fromcollar but have less circumferential speed than said 'collar, 2. gear 86is provided, rigid. with the latter. This gear 86 comeshes with a gear87 rigid with shaft 88, carried by framework A and disposed with itslongitudinally of shaft 17. On shaft 88 is a pinion 89 which comesheswith gear 66. Thus, as collar 60 rotates, its movement is imparted togear 66, through reducing gears 86 and 87, and pinion 89.

When assembling the several mechanisms, abutments 84 are so disposedthat when any of the clutch members of mechanism B are in operativerelation to each other for imarting movement of shaft 17 to the vehiclewheel. said abutments force clutch membore 71 and 77 out of engagement,so that the wheel 66 in no way materially retards movementof. shaft 17.

The operation of the transmission is as ment is imparted to Wheel 13 ina counter direction, through the comeshing bevel gears. When it isdesired to reverse movement of the vehicle, the collar 60 is rotated ina counter direction. Immediately pin 6 1 moves in slot 63, which actionmoves shaft 17 in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 5 of thedrawings. This permits the clutch members 11. to engage with the members6 and the shaft 17 is then rotated. in the direction counter to thathereinbefore set forth at a slower rate of speed than the collar 60 inthat the wheel 66 that is carried by one of the members 69 is thus keyedto rotate with the shaft because of the cngagement of one .of the clutchmembers 7 7 with one of the members'69 and the shaft is thus driven bymeans of the intern'ieshing gears 86, 87, 89 and 66 which, because oftheir relative sizes accomplish the slower rotation ofthe shaft than therotation of the collar 60. This slow-movement of shaft 17 permits theclutches of mechanism B to become disengaged, and other clutches, toengage, in order that the wheels 13 may be moved ina direction countertothat hereinbefore described. As soon as these clutches are insuccessful engiigement, the abutments 84: force the clutches ofn1echanism C 'out.of. engagement, and the shaft 17 moves with collar 60as soon as its pin 64; reaches the-other end of slot 63.

Itis to be noted, that when this transmission is embodied with a motorvehicle, and the wheels 13 are turned to cause the vehicle to move in acurved path, one wheel may move faster than the other inasmuch as theclutch members 35, 49 and 42 yieldably engage with the ratchet teeth ofgears 22 and 29. 7

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit orscope of my invention; but,

1. In transmission of the character described, the combination of aframe, two wheels carried thereby and bodily oscillatable about uprightaxes, a. drive shaft. said wheels having their horizontal axescoincidentwith the .axis of the shaft and mechanism for impartingmovement of said shaft to said wheels at a positive velocity ratio, butpermitting the latter to rotate faster than the ratio provided for bysaid shaft, including gear wheels turmible with the shaft, gear wheelsrotatable with the first mentioned wheels and means to drive the gearwheels of the first mentioned wheels from the gear wheels of the shaft.

2. in transmission of the character described, the combination of a.frame, two wheels carried thereby and bodily oscillatable about uprightaxes, a drive shaft, said wheels having their! horizontal axescoincident with the axis of the shaft, and mechanism for impartingmovement of said carried by said frame intermediate the shaft in eitherdirection to said wheels at a positive velocity ratio, but permittingthe latter torotate faster than the ratio provided for by said -shaft,including gear wheels turn'able with the shaft, gear wheels rotatablewith the first mentioned wheels and means to drive the gear wheels ofthe first mentioned wheels from the gear wheels of the shaft.

3. In transmission of the character described, the combination of aframe, two

wheels carried thereby, a rotatable shaft car- I ried by said frameintermediate the planes of said wheels and reciprocable longitudinally,means for imparting movement. of said shaft to said wheels at a positivevelocity ratio, but permitting the latter to rotate faster than theratio provided for from said shaft, said means being reversible bylongitudinal movement of said shaft, to positively rotate the wheels inthe reverse direction, and means for reciprocating said shaft,substantially as and for the purpose set-forth.

4. In transmission of the character described, the combination of aframe, two wheels carried thereby and bodily oscillatable about uprightaxes, a rotatable shaft carried by said frame intermediate. the

planes of said wheels and reciprocable longitudinally, means forimparting movement of said shaft to said wheels at a positive velocityratio, but permitting the latter to rotate faster than the ratioprovided for from said shaft, said means being reversible bylongitudinal movement of said shaft, and means for reciprocating saidshaft, substan tially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In transmission of-the character described, the combination of aframe, two wheels carried thereby, a revoluble shaft planes of saidwheels and reciprocable longitudinally, means for imparting movement ofsaid shaft to said wheels at a positive velocity ratio, but permittingthe latter to rotate faster than the ratio provided for wheels at apositive velocity ratio, but permitting the latter to rotate faster thanthe ratio provided for' from said shaft, said means being reversible bylongitudinal movement of said shaft, means for impartmg circumferentialmovement to said shaft and capable of reciprocating the same, and

means for retarding circumferential movement of said shaft while beingreciprocatci'l,

substantially as and for the purpose set.

forth.

7. In transmission of the character described, the combination of aframe, two Wheels carried thereby, a rotatable shaft carried by saidframe intermediate the planes of said wheels and reciprocablelongitudinally, means for imparting movement of said shaft to saidwheels at a positive velocity ratio, but permitting the latter to wheelscarried thereby, a rotatable shaft carried by said frame intermediatethe planes of said wheels and reciprocable longitudinally, means forimparting movement of said shaft to said wheels at a positive ve- :a

locity ratio, but permitting the latter to rotate faster than the ratioprovided for through said shaft, said means being reversible bylongitudinal movement of said shaft, a collar about'said shaft having ahelical slot, a pin extending into said slot and rigid with said shaft,means preventing lateral movement of said collar, a wheel looselymounted on said shaft but retained against longitudinal movementwithrespect to said frame, clutch members, at opposite sides of said wheel,rotatable therewith but yieldable toward its plane, coacting clutchmembers circumferentially movable with said shaft and yieldable in adirection army from the plane of said wheel, abutments adapted to throwsaid clutch members out of engagement prior to said shaft reaching itslimit of reciprocation, and speed reducing gears between said collar andwheel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In transmission of the character described, the combination of aframe, two wheels carried thereby, a rotatable shaft carried. by saidframe intermediate the planes of said wheels and reciprocablclongitudinally, means for imparting movement of said shaft to saidwheels at a positive velocity ratio, but permitting the latter to rotatefaster than the ratio provided for.

through said shaft, said means being reversible by longitudinal movementof said shaft, means for imparting rotation to said shaft but permittinglost circumferential movement between itself and said shaft 10. Intransmission of the character described, the combination of a frame, awheel revolubly carried thereby and bodily oscillatable about an uprightaxis, a revoluble shaft carried by said frame and capable of movementtoward or from said wheel, a

bevel gear movable with' said wheel and coaxial therewith, a secondbevel gear comeshing with said first gear and coaxial with the pivot ofoscillation of said'wheel, a third bevel gear loosely mounted onsaidshaft 1 and comeshing with said second gear, said third gear havingoppositely disposed ratchet teeth at opposite faces thereof, and

two clutch. members circumferentially movable with said shaft and havingratchet teeth to engage with the ratchet teeth of said third gear, saidclutch members being spaced relative to each other so that they may bealternately engaged with their coacting teeth on the third gear byreciprocation of said shaft, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

11. In transmission of the character described, the combination-of aframe, a wheel revolubly carried thereby and bodily oscillatable aboutan upright axis, a revoluble shaft carried by said frame and capable ofmovement toward or from said wheel, a bevel gear movable with saidwheeland coaxial therewith', a second bevel gear comeshing with said firstgear and coaxial with the pivot of oscillation of said wheel, a thirdbevel gear loosely mounted on said shaft and comeshing with said secondgear, said third gear having oppositely disposed ratchet teeth atopposite faces thereof, twoclutch members circumferentially movable,with said shaft, but movable longitudinallyithere...

- pose set forth.

of, and having ratchet teeth to engage with the ratchet teeth of saidthird gear, said a clutch members being spaced relative to each other sothat they maybe alternately engaged with their coactin g teeth on thethird gear by reciprocation of said shaft, and means for yieldablyforcing each of said clutch members toward the plane of said third gear,substantially as and for the pur- 12. In transmission of the characterdescribed, the eombination of a frame, a wheel revolubly carried therebyand bodily oscilla'table about an upright axis, a revoluble shaftcarried by said frame and capable of movement toward or from said wheel,a pair of coaxial bevel gears movable with said wheel, one of said gearsbeing larger than the other, a second pair of bevel gears comeshing withthe gears of said first pair and coaxial with the pivot of oscillationof said wheel, a third'pair of bevel gears comeshing with the gears ofsaid second pair,- 'said third gears being loosely mounted on said shaftand each having oppositely disposed ratchet teeth on opposite faces, aclutch member intermediate said third gears, circumferentially movablewith said shaft and having ratchet teeth on opposite faces to coact withthe ratchet teeth of said thirdgears facing each other, mea s normallycentering said clutch member to be yieldable in either directionlongitudinally of said shaft, two clutch members, one adjacent each .ofthe outer faces of said third gears,.circumferen tially movable withsaid shaftand having teeth to cooperate with the ratchet teeth at theouter faces of the said gears, and means for yieldably forcing the saidlast-mentioned clutch members toward the planes of their adjacent gears,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

LOGAN RODFORD CROUCH. Witnesses JOHN KRENZIEN, C. H. TOWNSEND.

